AuthorTopic: Poll: Which Is Your Favorite Version Of I'm Looking Through You? (Read 4603 times)

When Anthology was released, I was very impressed with Paul's first take of "I'm Looking Through You." We know he was having some relationship problems with Jane Asher at the time. The released version was quite tame in comparison to Take 1. Although I liked this song for so many years, I feel Take 1 was worthy of release. It was certainly as caustic as John's "Run For Your Life." Paul really vented his feelings in that early take. In many ways, I prefer Take 1.

The Anthology version was definately missing something in my opinion - but it IS one of THE best out-takes from the Beatles' catalogue! It's just a shame that Paul didn't have the "why tell me why..." segment for take one.

I love the take 1 version. I was recently obsessed with it and played it over and over again. I thought I prefered it to the released version, but now I don't I don't know. I like them equally as much. The first version IS way more biting. Just the way he sings it and all. I love when he sings Your not the same! Great. I also love the more bluesy feel of it and the guitar parts where the Why oh why part usually is. But I like the Why oh why part too, so I do miss it.

I love the take 1 version. I was recently obsessed with it and played it over and over again. I thought I prefered it to the released version, but now I don't I don't know. I like them equally as much. The first version IS way more biting. Just the way he sings it and all. I love when he sings Your not the same! Great. I also love the more bluesy feel of it and the guitar parts where the Why oh why part usually is. But I like the Why oh why part too, so I do miss it.

You've summed up my feelings about the two versions, Sandra. I suppose Take 1 shows that Paul was into Primal Scream Therapy years before John.

We're fortunate to have both takes. By a slight margin, my preference is for Take 1, perhaps Paul's original concept.

Being trained in blues guitar, I would tend to prefer take 1. I was around at the time the song came out. The Yardbirds were popular with some of us at the time. Take 1 always reminds me of that blues style. Perhaps Paul was a Yardbirds fan too.

I prefer the Take 1 version, I really love the way that one sounds, though it would be better if the "why, tell me why" part was in it! I like how people refer to that part, it totally makes the Rubber Soul version!

I prefer the Take 1 version, I really love the way that one sounds, though it would be better if the "why, tell me why" part was in it! I like how people refer to that part, it totally makes the Rubber Soul version!

The "why tell me whys" tone down the sentiment of the song. I mean if you're gonna tell someone off by saying "I'm looking through you," then emphasize it with a biting guitar solo and caustic "you're nowheres."

But the released version is nicely done. The "why tell me why did you not treat me right...Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight" was plaintive enough to allow for a reconciliation with Jane.

Thank you, Jema, for not allowing me to be the only one casting a vote for Take 1.

I've always liked this song a lot, mostly because "Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight" is a very clever way of stating an unfortunate truth. Discovering Take 1 was one of my favorite moments when I first listened to Anthology 2. I really had no idea at first what song it was so that was fun. Ironically, right around the time this topic was reintroduced I was doing that "can't stop listening to it" thing with Take 1. It's hard to pick a favorite; both versions are exactly where they belong since the released version fits the folk feel of Rubber Soul better. You're right Barry; we are fortunate to have both! And BTW, it kind of freaked me out when I listened to the Take 1 posted here. I thought there was something wrong with my CD since it doesn't have Norman Smith at the beginning.